Paul Scholes questions Man Utd’s decision to sign Odion Ighalo

February 15, 2020

Paul Scholes has questioned whether Odion Ighalo is good enough for Manchester United.

Ighalo, signed on loan from Shanghai Shenhua until the end of the season, will join up with the United squad this weekend, ahead of Monday’s Premier League trip to Chelsea.

The striker has been training away from United’s AON Complex for the past two weeks as a precaution against the coronavirus, following his arrival from China.

United moved to sign Ighalo on deadline day as cover for top scorer Marcus Rashford, who is out for at least three months with a double stress fracture of the back.

But United legend Scholes has questioned whether former Watford and Nigeria forward Ighalo, 30, has enough quality for Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s side.

“I don’t think he’s a signing for the long term,” said Scholes. “I think his scoring record in China is very good, but is it that credible? I don’t know.

“He’s an out-and-out centre forward and I don’t think United have an out-and-out centre forward. He’ll play with his back to goal and he might bring players into play.

“It’s good to have an extra body, but when you’re United, you want an extra body with quality, and he’s got that to prove.

“He’ll bring something different. I don’t see him starting many games.”